View Full Version : Switching Light Bulb Fixture to Flourescent
I have two of these in the ceiling of a 3-car garage:
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It is insufficient lighting to do anything.
I want to replace them with a set of tandem flourescent fixtures like these.
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So I'm not an electrician, but I am kinda handy. Always a little scared with wiring and stuff.
Should it be a pretty straight-forward wire-up? Black... white... green...
Yeah, about as basic as it gets: White to white, black to black, green to ground. Time for a beer.
I wrote you up a step by step but my phone won't post it. More or less what Tfog said.
I wrote you up a step by step but my phone won't post it. More or less what Tfog said.
Nice!
If I don't post after the weekend, I forgot to flip the breaker!
Great-Kazoo
02-12-2014, 17:09
Nice!
If I don't post after the weekend, I forgot to flip the breaker!
make sure you are using a metal ladder and fairly dry shoes ;)
Buy the "quick start" fixtures. You will be much happier in colder weather.
Under normal wiring, just keep the switch off and you'll have no power in light box. Buy yourself a circuit tester (hot stick). Well worth the $10.
Meeeeeh?
This would get you to the beer faster.
http://www.electronicplus.com/images/products/758B-BOX.jpg
Meeeeeh?
This would get you to the beer faster.
http://www.electronicplus.com/images/products/758B-BOX.jpg
Why would I wait till after the work was done to get into the beer? :-D
I thought about that, I was hoping to do a flush mount over the boxes that the outlets are on to make for a better look.
Under normal wiring, just keep the switch off and you'll have no power in light box. Buy yourself a circuit tester (hot stick). Well worth the $10.
I would do that, but I have many in the house that would come out to the garage to ask, "Daddy? What are you doing?" and automatically flip the switch.
Danceswithwires
02-12-2014, 19:37
Should it be a pretty straight-forward wire-up? Black... white... green...
Probably, depends on how old the house is, if there is a ground there it will probably be bare, white to white, black (maybe red) to the fixture black.Put some 4 or 5K tubes in there and you'll have tons of light. Run the fixtures for an 2-3 hours on first fire up, that's good for the tubes.
Nice!
If I don't post after the weekend, I forgot to flip the breaker!
it's 110v. it only tingles
Meeeeeh?
This would get you to the beer faster.
http://www.electronicplus.com/images/products/758B-BOX.jpg
How would you ground the new fixture?
hghclsswhitetrsh
02-12-2014, 19:59
How would you ground the new fixture?
Cut off the round pokey sticking outta the plug! Duuuuhhh.
Cut off the round pokey sticking outta the plug! Duuuuhhh.
Yeah that part don't do nothin'!
Cut off the round pokey sticking outta the plug! Duuuuhhh.
Ezzaklley!
These little electrical test pens are helpful.
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1070085726/5PCS-Digital-LCD-Display-Voltage-font-b-Electric-b-font-font-b-Test-b-font-font.jpg
Edit: Get one with English instructions though.
JohnnyEgo
02-14-2014, 11:54
If you look around Lowes or Home Depot, some of the light fixtures have an 'EZ Mount' system. It's basically two slots that grab on to the original fixture mount screws. You push the strip up and twist it into place.
It solves the hardest part of the process, which is supporting an unwieldy 8' long piece of sheet metal up on your ceiling while you try to wire and mount it. Most of the fixtures have stab-in style wire connections, so the wiring is actually remarkably easy. If you can't find the quick mount system, my recommendation would be that you pre-determine and mark where at least one joist is near to the ceiling box and your fixture center-line. When you are on the ladder with the fixture, mount the middle screw into the joist. Then it is up there without falling on you, you can swing it out of the way, and you can determine your other joist locations for mounting and take your time with the wiring.
Here is my most recent hack job for converting one ceiling fixture into two:
http://johnnyego.com/dump/house/flourescent01.JPG
If my HVAC ducting or the knockouts had been in a more convenient place, I would have just mounted one light directly over the box, and run a small piece of conduit between the two lights. But the spacing just didn't work for this part of my ceiling or fixtures.
Don't buy the T12 fixtures, as those bulbs are being phased out. The T5 High Output bulbs are awesome, but hard to find locally. I have three fixtures with 12 T8 daylight bulbs in my garage, and I can turn night into day.
This is so easy to do that I could swing by and do them for you in about 30 minutes if you can't get them done yourself.
If you look around Lowes or Home Depot, some of the light fixtures have an 'EZ Mount' system. It's basically two slots that grab on to the original fixture mount screws. You push the strip up and twist it into place.
It solves the hardest part of the process, which is supporting an unwieldy 8' long piece of sheet metal up on your ceiling while you try to wire and mount it. Most of the fixtures have stab-in style wire connections, so the wiring is actually remarkably easy. If you can't find the quick mount system, my recommendation would be that you pre-determine and mark where at least one joist is near to the ceiling box and your fixture center-line. When you are on the ladder with the fixture, mount the middle screw into the joist. Then it is up there without falling on you, you can swing it out of the way, and you can determine your other joist locations for mounting and take your time with the wiring.
Here is my most recent hack job for converting one ceiling fixture into two:
http://johnnyego.com/dump/house/flourescent01.JPG
If my HVAC ducting or the knockouts had been in a more convenient place, I would have just mounted one light directly over the box, and run a small piece of conduit between the two lights. But the spacing just didn't work for this part of my ceiling or fixtures.
Don't buy the T12 fixtures, as those bulbs are being phased out. The T5 High Output bulbs are awesome, but hard to find locally. I have three fixtures with 12 T8 daylight bulbs in my garage, and I can turn night into day.
This is so easy to do that I could swing by and do them for you in about 30 minutes if you can't get them done yourself.
Thanks for the recommendations! I didn't know t12 was being phased out so that is a good tip. I'll definitely look for that system, because i don't think there will be anyone else up there on the ladder with me.
So, I was able to mount the fixture right over the old box.
The ground was already hooked up to the box where the fixture screw was. I used the spot that the ground screw was to screw the fixture right up to the ceiling and attach the fixture right to the box, while feeding the wires into the strip light. The power from the house had Red and White wires.
One screw got it right to the ceiling so I could mount the rest of the fixture with drywall anchors It even grounded the fixture as well. I got the $40.78 fixture with T8's, it claims to be instant start. Started right up during the smoke-test. An hour later and the house is still not burnt down!
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Next weekend I'll do the shop area. It will be different because the box in the ceiling I want to turn into a couple outlets because I'm looking at some different fixtures that hang down a little more and plug in.
Was it as easy as we made it sound?
Was it as easy as we made it sound?
Heck yeah! I might just start doing some other electrical things that have been bugging me. I do need a bigger ladder.
jerrymrc
02-17-2014, 07:21
Heck yeah! I might just start doing some other electrical things that have been bugging me. I do need a bigger ladder.
Why does this disturb me. [Coffee] I need to redo the lights in my garage. great lights but I put them up in a hurry.
Why does this disturb me. [Coffee] I need to redo the lights in my garage. great lights but I put them up in a hurry.
LOL! I guess the fear of electricity is what has kept me alive.
Get the florescent fixture with a plug on the end that is easy too.
My problem is the ballast goes out after about 2 years. Very difficult to keep lights in the garage.
Get the florescent fixture with a plug on the end that is easy too.
My problem is the ballast goes out after about 2 years. Very difficult to keep lights in the garage.
After putting up this one light up over by the wifes car and the refrigerators, I think I am going to convert the other light bulb fixture into a outlet to plug a fixture like these where I can hang a set of lights down farther. This will help especially since I have a few overhead storage racks coming down from the ceiling right now anyways.
41033 Figure I might as well figure out how to wire up an outlet while I am messing with electricity. These have a pull string as well, so that way I don't have to have them turn on every time the light switch for the garage is flipped on.
So, this weekend I'm replacing the fixture with a receptacle outlet, so I can plug in the shop lights and hang them down into the shop space.
The box is a round-type, doing some searching, it seems to me that a faceplate that will cover it will be a little hard to come by. I guess I will need a round faceplate, with outlet cutouts. Anyone have a suggestion on where I can look?
Can you acess the box and just swap it out?
Easiest off the lowes shelves is to block off the round and turn it to a j box. Put a cut in box right next to it.
Can you acess the box and just swap it out?
Easiest off the lowes shelves is to block off the round and turn it to a j box. Put a cut in box right next to it.
It is on the rafters and it is completely accessible. I suppose I could just yank it down and put up an outlet box. hmmm yeah that will probably work nicely
I like j-box idea, never know what I might want to add later on to the garage. I bet doing this I can even move it to a better spot!
Here is where it is right now. sorry taking pictures of lights while they are on makes the definition suffer LOL. Wish I would have thought out the overhead storage placement a little better, but ahh well.
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I love the DIY Section of the forum. Lots of knowledgeable people's brains to tap into!
The important thing is your flat screen is juuuuuust right.
newracer
02-19-2014, 13:56
So, this weekend I'm replacing the fixture with a receptacle outlet, so I can plug in the shop lights and hang them down into the shop space.
The box is a round-type, doing some searching, it seems to me that a faceplate that will cover it will be a little hard to come by. I guess I will need a round faceplate, with outlet cutouts. Anyone have a suggestion on where I can look?
I'd replace the round box with a 2 gang square box. Then you will have plenty of room for future changes.
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The important thing is your flat screen is juuuuuust right.
That! is just about as important as how many beers do I have left in the fridge.
I'd replace the round box with a 2 gang square box. Then you will have plenty of room for future changes.
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I think that is what I will be doing. Wondering if the best way of doing it is to bring another run of wire from the j-box further up the line for any expansion?
So, this weekend I'm replacing the fixture with a receptacle outlet, so I can plug in the shop lights and hang them down into the shop space.
The box is a round-type, doing some searching, it seems to me that a faceplate that will cover it will be a little hard to come by. I guess I will need a round faceplate, with outlet cutouts. Anyone have a suggestion on where I can look?
Home Depot or Lowes. It will be a metal cover soo look in that section.
Replaced the light fixture and box with a regular 1 gang outlet box, and outlet.
The only thing about this second box is I think that a switch and back porchlight feed off these. I think this because there was a wire that had a black/red/neutral/ground in it going into the box, and two other wires going out that just had black/white/ground. so I figure one went to the other overhead light in the garage and the other went to the porchlight/switch.
Either way I just made the same connections back where they were in the circuit, and hooked up the outlet to the red/white/ground like the light bulb was hooked up to.
I'll add pictures of the finished project when I get home. Just need to get some hanging light fixtures from home depoty and I am set!
On a side note, I am so glad I had an additional two circuits added to my garage recently! One for the outlets on the wall over by the workshop area, and another dedicated 20-amp circuit for my welder, because all the items in the ceiling and refrigerator are on a separate breaker so I could still watch TV while doing this work! LOL
41375
There is the box I replaced. I'll hang the shop lights near this.
I get the whole GFCI within 6 feet of water deal, but why is garage stuff GFCI?
Needs to be a gfi
All of the outlets in the garage?
newracer
02-25-2014, 20:55
I am pretty sure the outlets in the ceiling of my garage are not on a GFCI and my house is less than 6 months old.
I am pretty sure the outlets in the ceiling of my garage are not on a GFCI and my house is less than 6 months old.
So i googled it. International code apparently states wet areas need to be.... Fuk.
Guess I got a project this weekend. The ones in my ceiling are not gfci either, but the ones that the guy just installed on the walls are not and supposedly from what I read need to be.
All areas with the possibility of being wet including unfinished areas of basements, I believe.
So i googled it. International code apparently states wet areas need to be.... Fuk.
Guess I got a project this weekend. The ones in my ceiling are not gfci either, but the ones that the guy just installed on the walls are not and supposedly from what I read need to be.
you can change breakers to gfci or you can pull your outlet nearest the box on that circuit and daisy chain it inline. since you can actually see the wires it should be quick to determine where to put it.
you can change breakers to gfci or you can pull your outlet nearest the box on that circuit and daisy chain it inline. since you can actually see the wires it should be quick to determine where to put it.
Ooooo, I might just replace the breaker since I want to keep the look of black plate and grey receptacle, I would have to replace all of them.
So i googled it. International code apparently states wet areas need to be.... Fuk.
Guess I got a project this weekend. The ones in my ceiling are not gfci either, but the ones that the guy just installed on the walls are not and supposedly from what I read need to be.
All 120v receptacles in a garage needs to be.
This is quickly becoming a whole lot more involved.... I'm also not really happy with my "electrician" guy. :-|
I am pretty sure the outlets in the ceiling of my garage are not on a GFCI and my house is less than 6 months old.
Are you sure they are not tied in to a gfci somewhere in the house or even a outside one?
This is quickly becoming a whole lot more involved.... I'm also not really happy with my "electrician" guy. :-|
What flavor of panel do you have?
What flavor of panel do you have?
Well... the gray kind?
Before I jumped into this I had not attempted anything electrical before.... heckuva way to learn.
Well... the gray kind?
Before I jumped into this I had not attempted anything electrical before.... heckuva way to learn.
LOL we can walk you through it. What brand of panel is it? Open the door and look.
"Square D"
two of the breakers look like they are GFI but they are only labelled "ARC Fault" they are about 1/3 of the way down on each side. They have a green TEST button on them
I have 3 garage breakers. 1 was original 15 Amp, and two new ones I had installed by someone they are 20 amp. They look to be regular breakers.
You can get a 20 amp gray GFCI in gray. I have one in my garage right now.
Arc fault breakers are a little different and are a requirement for in the house. This is what you need if you want to change the breaker in the garage.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-by-Schneider-Electric-Homeline-20-Amp-Single-Pole-GFCI-Circuit-Breaker-HOM120GFICP/100002959
You can get a 20 amp gray GFCI in gray. I have one in my garage right now.
Yeah, unfortunately I have 5 receptacles to switch over that I had this guy install plus faceplates including the one I put in, and that isn't including the receptacles that were there already for the garage door openers that are not GFCI
Arc fault breakers are a little different and are a requirement for in the house. This is what you need if you want to change the breaker in the garage.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Square-D-by-Schneider-Electric-Homeline-20-Amp-Single-Pole-GFCI-Circuit-Breaker-HOM120GFICP/100002959
35 bucks is a lot cheaper than replacing all the outlets. Thanks! Sparky I owe you a beverage or two if you are in my neck o the woods!
You can get a 20 amp gray GFCI in gray. I have one in my garage right now.
This is true. Home Depot sells them.
Yeah, unfortunately I have 5 receptacles to switch over plus faceplates, and that isn't including the receptacles that were there already for the garage door openers that are not GFCI
You don't need to do every receptacle. Just the first one in the circuit and put the rest on the load side of the gfci receptacle
How do you test to find out which outlet is the first in the circuit?
You don't need to do every receptacle. Just the first one in the circuit and put the rest on the load side of the gfci receptacle
Yeah, but I'm a little OCD... There are 3 outlets on the wall and if I do that, one will be a grey square with a black faceplate and all the others will be different LOL
How do you test to find out which outlet is the first in the circuit?
If the garage is unfinished you can just trace the wires back to the panel. If not you need a meter and some time. Gotta turn off the breaker to see which are on the circuit. Turn it back on and start pulling apart one by one until you figure it out
Yeah, but I'm a little OCD... There are 3 outlets on the wall and if I do that, one will be a grey square with a black faceplate and all the others will be different LOL
don't put multiple gfci receptacles on a circuit unless you have to. If you do you need to pigtail your wires instead of daisy chain
If the garage is unfinished you can just trace the wires back to the panel. If not you need a meter and some time. Gotta turn off the breaker to see which are on the circuit. Turn it back on and start pulling apart one by one until you figure it out
Replacing the breaker will be best for me I think. I really appreciate the help Sparky! There are no gfci outlets in this garage except for one that was on the original 15 amp circuit.
Getting into the breaker box is not something I was hoping to do so soon with as little experience I got... but you tube should hook me up.
Look up houseimprovement.com channel. They have a video on replacing a breaker that is exactly what you need.
Replacing the breaker will be best for me I think. I really appreciate the help Sparky!
Getting into the breaker box is not something I was hoping to do so soon with as little experience I got... but you tube should hook me up.
Good Luck. Just don't touch the bus bars and you will be fine. PM me with any questions.
Look up houseimprovement.com channel. They have a video on replacing a breaker that is exactly what you need.
Found it thanks! I'm learnin' all aboot it!
Good Luck. Just don't touch the bus bars and you will be fine. PM me with any questions.
*gasp!*
newracer
02-25-2014, 22:57
Are you sure they are not tied in to a gfci somewhere in the house or even a outside one?
I will investigate more and find out. I could be wrong.
I just finished installing the 30 amp 220V wall plug for my welder. Now I can work on the jeep.
newracer
02-25-2014, 22:58
Good Luck. Just don't touch the bus bars and you will be fine. PM me with any questions.
I always only use one hand while working in a hot panel.
I will investigate more and find out. I could be wrong.
I just finished installing the 30 amp 220V wall plug for my welder. Now I can work on the jeep.
I bought the Miller 140 so I didn't have to bother with 220 outlets, regular 15 amp outlets are hit and miss though and not recommended. The work cycle is shorter, but meh it works for hobby stuff.
newracer
02-25-2014, 23:31
I have the Miller 180.
Oh yeah if the romex coming into your panel has black,red, white, and bare ground the gfci breaker will not work and the electrician is a moron.
Oh yeah if the romex coming into your panel has black,red, white, and bare ground the gfci breaker will not work and the electrician is a moron.
Okay, I guess I will open it up today and look. So if the two circuits that he added (without GFCI and should have been) have the four wires (black/red/white/ground) don't even bother with changing out the breaker because it will not work?
I didn't see any red wires when he installed it I think it is the cable with Black/White, and ground). The only time I saw the red, was in the ceiling with the house original overhead lights that are on the light switch at the entry of the garage. (The light bulb fixtures I just swapped out.)
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